Vozes transgressoras: a poesia erótica de Florbela Espanca e Gilka Machado

Abstract

At the end of 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century, the women, in Portugal and in Brazil, didn t have autonomy over their bodies, over their sexuality and over their writing. In life and in poetry, the women should follow the precepts of the conservative morality, that preached a graceful, modest and submissive model of femininity. And, in this moment, despite the fact that female sexuality was strongly interdicted, arose the voices full of eroticism of Florbela Espanca and Gilka Machado as elements of transgression. Their voices opened the doors for other women to conquer increasingly autonomy over their lives and over literature. Even under strong repression, the authoresses could break the mold of female poetry and the passive role of women. Thus, this study has the purpose to analyze the eroticism in the poetry books Charneca em Flor (1931) of Florbela Espanca and Meu Glorioso Pecado (1928) of Gilka Machado. Besides I intend to promote the dialogue between the books, reflecting about their similarities and their differences.